Old Letters More Valuable To Collectors If Stamps Are Left On

The Envelopes

August 03, 1986|By Les Winick.

This week`s column answers questions sent in by readers.

Q--I have some old letters dated in the 1880s. Do they have any value?

A--Yes, but it depends on the stamp used and the postmark. Do not remove the stamps from the letters since collectors want the entire envelope as part of postal history. Take the letters to a stamp bourse or stamp store to get some idea of value.

Q--I have a payment receipt dated May 2, 1865, with a 2-cent stamps on it and the words ``U.S. INTERREN.`` What is it and what is it worth?

A--If you look at the stamp closely, you will see that it says ``U.S. INTER.REV.`` The Commissioner of Internal Revenue ordered revenue stamps printed in August, 1862, and they were used for a variety of purposes until Dec. 31, 1967. Your stamp is one of the early ones and was used between 1862 and 1871 to pay the taxes on bank checks, playing cards, certificates or general revenue. The catalog value can vary between 5 cents and $130 depending on a number of factors.

First of all, keep the stamp on the document. Canceling was usually done with pen and ink, and handstamped or printed cancels bring much higher prices. Punched or other types of cancel that break the paper of the stamp lower the value. Some documents are in greater demand than others. Check the Scott`s Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps in your local library in the section titled ``Revenues.``

Q--I have a 15-cent U.S. stamp in mint condition with the flag of our country showing eight bars in red and seven bars in white. We checked the other flags and they had seven red bars and six white ones. One might say it pays to count. How much is the stamp worth?

A--The stamp is only worth face value and was issued to honor the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812. The flag at that time had 15 stripes and 15 stars.

When the U.S. flag was first flown in 1704, there were 13 stars and 13 bars, 7 red and 6 white. In 1794, two new states joined the Union and Congress added 2 stars and 2 stripes, which was used after May 1, 1795. This is the flag illustrated on your stamp. In 1817 Congress settled for a flag of 13 stripes with a star for each state.